The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-01-22
THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC.
An Entertaining Lecture by MIR. J..
T. Arundel, #. H. G.. Sc, London
Facts About Samoa.

evening by Mr.. John T. Arundel, F. r.
q. s., to large and appreciative audi
ence. Starting on the line of the steamer
track from San Francisco, he gave his
personal impressions respecting the
islands on and near its route. Passing
over the Sandwich Islands, as they were
probably better known by the audience
than by himself, he briefly touched upon
Starbuck Island, Fauning's Island,
which latter he anticipated would grow
into great importance on the completion
of the proposed cable; Sydney Island,
and group of special interest, that OF
Samoa He briefly sketched the social
and political conditions prevailing under
King Malietoa and how his authority is
menaced from time to time by the Vice
King. The Samoans he considered one
of the largest races of the Pacific. but
also one of the most warlike. The origi-
nal Malietoa, from whom the present
Monarch was descended, occupied very
much the same relation to Samoa as Ka-
mehameha did to the Hawaiian Islands,
for he was the founder of the present
dynasty. He was great warrior, and
since he died the people had been less
to fight. The Samoans in later
years had acquired a remarkable
prediction for cricket, bat they
were not in the habit of play
ing with teams of eleven. A team
usually comprised about hundred.
One village would play another, and a
large amount OF time was consumed in
this way One of the old missionaries
held cricket to be sinful, and prohibited
church members from playing the game,
but the younger missionaries Of the
present day encouraged it. The lee
turer, for his own part, thought it a fine
thing to get the Samoans to do anything
at all OF physical nature. Not long
ago a lengthy petition was got up and
signed by the King, Vice King and
nearly every Chief in Samoa. 1t was
addressed to Queen Victoria, and set
forth that various nations were casting
eager glances upon the Islands. but
their own wish was, if they were to be-
long to any one, that they should belong
to the British Queen. 1t had been
shown to the lecturer by the English
Consul, who said he was afraid it was
not worth the paper it was written upon.
Shortly after this the German merchants,
who were very much annoyed about it,
began to talk politics to the people.
Their reply was in effect, owe have
written to Queen Victoria, and we are
not going to do anything except play
cricket until we hear from her" On the
island of Tutuila, off the west cape of
which the mail steamers call, was one
of the finest land-locked harbors in the
Pacific, Pangopango HarbOr. In APP
pearance it resembled a beautiful
Scotch Lake. Mr.. Arundel had
visited this harbor in his steamer
the Explorer (now in Homo
lulu), and it was not long before the YES
sci was surrounded by canoes and 500
or 600 natives came on board, it being
impossible to restrain them, even the
steam whistle striking but mOmentary
terror into their hearts. The object in
going there was to have the steamer
painted, which was impracticable while
the natives persisted in coming on board.
The matter was accordingly represented
to Chiefess of reputed influence named
Maunga, who settled the difficulty by
coming on board herself, none but her
immediate attendants being permitted
to follow. He described this Chiefess as
being fine, strapping girl OF Is, whose
presence seemed to fill the entire saloon.
So great was the respect in which the
sauctity of Sunday was observed, that
even the sudden advent in the harbor OF
a steamer of 5000 tons did not attract
the natives flom church. This incident
was given to show the reality of Christ
| ian teaching in Samoa. Referring tC
the natural history of the group, a singu
! lar fact was stated with regard to sea
worm called the palolo, which made its
appearance regularly upon the same day
each year with undertaking regularity il
| October or November, according to the
| phase of the moon. 1t was the custom
| of the natives to go out in canoes at thu
appointed time to catch them. The
Washington Commission now sitting tt
consider the future of Samoa was briefly
alluded to, but the lecturer did not thinl
| there need be any fear for Samoa
future, for had not Samoa beer
taken under the wing of Hawaii
Applause Speaking of the other IslanC
groups, he stated that in several of thei
number there had been some grea
chief, born leader of men, who in eacl
case might be regarded as a parable
character to Kamehameha, notably
Thakambau of FIJI, Malietoa of Samoa
Queen Pomare of Tahiti and George @
Tonga. The latter, who was still living
was over 80 years of age, and neare
seven feet than six in stature. TIL
Kermadec Islands, the latest acquisition
of the British Crown, were brief
touched upon, as also Macaulay'
Island, Sunday Island, the Societ
Tc1andS the Friendly tho Eilhort- -,